Cap sorting machine



April 21, 1936.

G. A, BREsET-r GAP soRTING MACHINE' Filed Sept. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ooooooooo Y Filed sept. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORy 650,965 ,555.9572- f ,ff f

RNEYS pr 2l, 1936. G, A, BRESETT 2,038,096

CAP SORTING MACHINE Filed sept. 7, 1954 4 sheeisfsheet 4 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAP SORTING MACHINE tion ci.' New Jersey Application September 7, 1934, Serial No. 743,066

7 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in machines for sorting caps for containers.

Although the machine of the present invention is adapted for sorting caps of various types, such as can or bottle caps, it is more particularly adapted for sorting caps consisting of a cylindrical body portion, closed at one end, and a flat ringlike flange extending radially outwardly from its other end. Such caps are commonly used for closing and sealing the central hole in one end of a tin can adapted to contain preserved milk or other food product. For one reason or another, in the manufacture of these caps, some are of too great a height, some are elongated, some cracked, and some chipped or otherwise mutilated. These defective caps, if they reach the capping machines, sometimes get stuck in the machines or if they are inserted in the cans, they must be removed therefrom. All this causes delay and increases the cost of production.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide cap sorting machines for eliminating defective caps before they reach the capping machines, but in spite of the use of such sorting machines, as heretofore constructed, too great a proportion of defective caps are fed to the capping machines. It

is the object of the present invention to providey a cap sorting machine of such construction and mode of operation that substantially no defective caps will reach the capping machines. To this end the invention consists in the improved cap sorting machine hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved cap sorter; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, looking from the left in that figure; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross section of the machine, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail, showing one of the cap gages or discharge apertures in the outer drum; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 5.

The improved cap sorting machine as illustrated in the drawings comprises two slightly tilted, rotating baskets or drums, square in cross section, an inner elongated drum I0 and a short outer drum Il enclosing the lower or discharge end of the inner drum. The two drums are supported on a shaft I2, driven by the chain I3, and mounted in the bearings I4 supported on bracket I5 extending from the frame of a cap forming machine. The shaft I2 is slightly tilted, from right to left, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in order that the caps may slowly pass from the right or intake end of the drums to the left or discharge 5 end of the drums. In these figures the amount of tilt is exaggerated. On the shaft I2 are mounted two spiders I'I and I8 which support the inner drum ID. The outer drum II is supported from the inner drum by means of the sleeved bolts I9 10 which screw into the arms of the spiders I'I and I 8.

The caps to be sorted pass through the chute 2l into the outer or upper end 22 of the inner drum Il which is provided at this end with an inturned flange 23 to prevent the caps from discharging therethrough. In the four sides of the intake end 22 of the drum IIJ are round holes 24 of smaller diameter than the diameter of perfect caps. Through these holes 24 fall chips and chopped caps, while the perfect caps, double caps, some elongated caps and other caps of too great a diameter to fall through the holes 24, pass into the lower or discharge end of the drum I0, which is the end surrounded by the outer drum II.

In the sides of the lower end of the drum I0 are round holes 25 of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of perfect caps. As the drums slowly rotate, and the caps travel slowly toward the open discharge end of the drum Ill, at which point the spider I1 is located, the perfect caps, and some elongated and cracked caps, will pass through the gage holes 25 and into the interior of the outer drum I I. The double caps and all caps of too large a diameter to pass through the holesV 35 25 will be discharged into the chute 21 and pass out through its open lower end 28 into a scrap box 29. The chute 2'I is provided with a screen 3S for Ventilating the interior of the drums and also for inspection thereof. If perfect caps are discharged into the chute 21 with the oversize and defective caps they are recovered by a resorting operation.

Along with the perfect caps which pass through the gage holes 25 and fall into the interior of the outer drum I I are some elongated caps and some caps of too great a thickness or height, such as cracked caps. To sort out the caps of too great a height or thickness, and some elongated caps, from the perfect caps, each side of the outer .drum II is provided at the point where it joins the next side, with a. series of gage apertures or holes 32, shown indetail in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, which serve to permit the discharge therethrough of perfect caps and some elongated caps, but no caps of too great a thickness or height.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and '7, since they are typical and representative of the point of juncture of any two sides of the outer drum, and assuming that the drums advance in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, as the advancing side 34 of drum I I travels upward the caps which land on the side 34 from the next preceding side 35 (not shown in Fig. 5) whether flange down, as shown at 36 in one of the gage apertures 32 (which are cut in the sides 35) or the other side down, as shown at 33, they slide downward toward the apertures 32. To direct the caps into the apertures 32 each side 34 is provided with a series of wedge shaped pieces 31, located on both sides of each aperture. Each wedge-shaped guide piece 31 has an upstanding part 38 secured to a side 35. The distance between the inner edges 39 of two adjacent wedge-shaped pieces 31 determines the diameter of the caps which shall pass through the apertures 32, and the distance of the toothed gage pieces 40, secured to the sides 35, from the sides 34 determines the thickness or height of the caps which shall pass through the apertures 32.

Caps of proper height and diameter, whether resting on the side 34 top or bottom side down, pass readily through the apertures or gage holes 32. So also do elongated caps of proper height, if they happen to be presented to the apertures 32 parallel with the axis of their elongation. Caps of greater height or thickness than the distance between the teeth of the members 40 and the inner face of the sides 34 do not of course pass through the gage apertures 32, but eventually nd their way out through the lower or discharge end of the drum Il into the discharge chute 21.

The caps, the perfect and some elongated, which pass through the apertures 32 in the walls 35 of the outer drum II slide down onto a platform, or series of platforms 42, which constitute a continuation of the sides 34 of the drum I I. As the caps emerge from the apertures 32 they pass between two rows of gage members 43, in the form of collared pins, adjustably fixed in the platforms 42.

Referring to Fig. 6, the course of travel of a perfect cap on the platform 42 after it emerges from an aperture 32 will be understood. To reach the outside edge of the platform and be discharged or thrown therefrom (as the drums rotate) the caps pass between two rows of the collared pins 43, three on each side of the path of travel of the caps, arranged at an angle to the path of rotation of the drums. Referring now to Fig. 6, and to the two middle rows of gage pins 43 shown thereon, it will be seen that they are numbered 44, 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49. Now the distance between pins 44 and 45, 45 and 46, 46 and 41, 41 and 48, 48 and 49 is the same. As a perfect cap emerges from an aperture 32 and passes between pins 44 and 45 it strikes pin 46 at a tangent, making a partial rotation and passes between pins 46 and 45. It then passes between pins 46 and 41 (still rotating) and strikes pin 48. This gives the cap a further rotational movement and as it rotates it passes between pins 48 and 41, and then between pins 48 and 49 and so off the platform 42, as the side 34 of the drum II continues to move in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5. These perfect caps are thrown from the platform into a receptacle 5I from whence they are delivered to the can or bottle capping machnes.

When elongated caps which are not suitable f-or closing and sealing purposes pass through the apertures 32, and they tend to rotate, their dimension along their major axis will not permit them to rotate between the pins 43 defining each off-set path leading from an aperture 32 onto the platform 42. As the drums rotate and thel platform carrying an elongated cap caught between the pins moves to the position indicated at A in Fig. 4 and travels upwardly therefrom, the cap caught between the pins 43 will usually become disengaged from the pins and fall into the receptacle 29.

In case, however, the caught cap does not become disengaged by gravity from the pins 43, means are provided for positively disengaging the cap. This means consists of a series of blades 53 located above and to one side of the path of rotation of the corners of the outer drum, as shown in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 4. Each blade 53 is provided with a hub 54 loosely mounted on a rod 55 fixed at its ends in the uprights 56 which are secured at their lower ends to angle irons 51 supported on the bracket I5. The angle irons 51 are spaced apart and afforded proper rigidity by the bars 58. Each blade is held yieldingly in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by means of a contraction spring 6U secured at one end to an arm 6I projecting upwardly and outwardly from each blade hub 54, and at its other end to a rod 62 supported in the upper ends of arms 63 secured to the rod 55. A bar 64 supported from the rod 55 by the arms 65, Fig. 4, (only one being shown), serves as a stop against which the springs 69 pull the arms 6I and so determines the operative position of the blades 53.

In order that the platforms 42 may pass the blades 53 they are slotted at 66. Since the paths for the caps sliding down the platforms 42 are at angle to the path of travel of the drums, the slots 66 are given the same angularity and are in the middle of the cap paths. For this reason the blades 53 are set at the same angle, and are so positioned that the sides of the slots clear them. It will thus be seen that if a cap is stuck between the pins 43 as the platforms 42 reach the lower edges of the blades 53, it will be stripped from the pins 43 and fall into the receptacle 29. To prevent the falling cap from landing on the ends 61 of the pins 43 projecting through the platforms 42 and so being brought up against the blades 53, 'slotted guard plates 68 are located just forward of the pin ends 61.

The blades 53 perform the additional function of pushing back into the interior of the drum I I the caps which pro-ject out of the apertures 32 a short Way but which can not pass therethrough. Such caps are mostly the caps of too great a height or thickness, and usually only a portion of the flange of the caps projects out of the apertures. Consequently when such caps, and any other caps stuck in the apertures 32, reach the beveled forward edges 69 of the blades 53 they are pushed back into the interior of the drum I I where they remain until they nally fall out of the `discharge end of the drum into the chute 21.

The front side and ends of the machine are sheathed, as by the plates 10, and 'II and 12, respectively, but the rear side is open except for a flap cover 14 detachably hinged on the rod 13, xed in the uprights 56, so as lto give access to the working parts and permit removal of the' also hinged so as to permit the removal of the perfect caps from the receptacle 5|.

The mode of operation of the improved cap sorting machine has been described in connection with the description of the construction of the machine, but for convenience will be briefly recapitulated as follows: The caps to be sorted enter the upper or' outer end of the inner drum l0 through the chute 2|. The cut caps and chips fall through the holes 24, while all pieces too large to pass through the holes 24 move on into the lower end of the drum I0. Perfect caps an-d some elongated and cracked caps, and caps of proper diameter but of too great a height pass through the gage holes 25 and into the interior of the outer drum The caps which can not pass through the holes 25 travel through the drum l and are discharged through itsV open lower end into the chute 2`| and thence into the receptacle 29.

Perfect caps and some elongated caps pass through the .gage apertures 32 onto the platform 42. The caps emerging from the apertures 32 strike the pin 46 (Fig. 6) at a tangent and are partially rotated so as to pass between pins 46 and 45. The perfect cap will then pass between the pins 46 and 41 and strike the pin` 48 and be further rotated so as to pass between the pins 48 and 49 and so slide off the platform into the receptacle 5| by the time the platform has moved a short distance beyond the position shown in Fig. 5. But the elongated caps are too long to rotate between the two rows of pins and are caught and held by them so as to be carried beyond the receptacle 5|. As the platform carrying the elongated cap or caps travels upwardly toward the blades 53 they may fall into the receptacl 29, if not, they will be stripped from the pins holding them by the blades 53. Caps stuck in the apertures 32 will be pushed back into the interior of the drum by the curved edges 69 of blades 53. Caps not passing through the apertures 32 find their way into the chute 2l through the open lower end of the outer drum If perfect caps are discharged into the chute 2`| with the defective caps, putting the contents of the receptacle 29 through the machine a second time will recover them.

I claim as my invention:

l. An apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like comprising an elongated rotating drum tilted so that caps introduced at the upper end thereof will travel toward the lower end, said drum having a plurality of flat sides with round holes therein, the holes in the section of the drum near the upper end thereof being smaller than the diameter of a cap of proper size, and the holes in the section of the drum near the lower end thereof being of such size as to permit caps of proper diameter to pass therethrough, the lower end of said drum being open so that caps which fail to pass through the holes n the drum are discharged therethrough, a second drum surrounding the lower section of the first drum mounted to rotate in alinement therewith, said second drum having a plurality of flat sides with apertures at the joints between the sides to permit the passage therethrough of caps of the proper height and width, a platform extending outwardly from each aperture to receive thereon the caps discharged through the aperture, means on each platform dening an offset path for the caps so arranged as to permit the passage therethrough of a perfect cap but hold an elongated cap, said platform having a slot, and means arranged to enter the slot as the drum rotates to dislodge a cap held on the platform and to push back into the second drum a cap held in an aperture, said second drum being open at its lower en-d to permit the discharge therethrough of caps which fail to pass through the apertures.

2. Anapparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like comprising a rotating drum tilted so that caps fed into the upper end thereof will travel therethrough, said drum being provided with-two series of gage holes, the series of holes at the upper end of the drum being smaller than the diameter of a properly made cap and the holes in the lower end of the drum being of such diameter as to permit the passage therethrough of caps of the proper diameter, a second drum enclosing the lower section of the first drum and positioned to receive the caps therefrom, said second drum being provided with a series of openings through which caps of proper height and diameter may pass, means located outside the openings in the second drum for catching and retaining elongated caps, and means positioned to intercept the held caps as the drums rotate and dislodge them from the retaining means.

3. In an apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like, a rotating drum tilted so that caps introduced into the drum will travel toward the lower end thereof, said drum having a plurality of flat sides with openings at the joints of the sides to permit the passage therethrough of caps of proper height and diameter, a platform eX- tending outwardly from each discharge opening to receive the cap discharged therethrough, means on the platform defining an offset passageway for the caps to retain deformed caps on the platform, and means operable as the drum rotates for dislodging held caps from the platform.

4. In an apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like, a rotating drum having .a plurality of flat sides with apertures at the joints between the sides to permit the passage therethrough of caps of the proper height and diameter, a platform projecting outwardly from the apertures to receive thereon the caps discharged through the apertures, means on the platform defining offset paths through which the discharged caps travel and arranged to hold elongated caps, said platforms being provided with a series of offset slots extending outwardly from the apertures, and yielding blades arranged to enter the slots as the drum rotates to dislodge caps held on the platform and to push back into the interior of the drum caps held in the apertures.

5. In an apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like, a rotating drum having a plurality of flat sides with apertures at the joints between the sides to permit the passage therethrough of caps of the proper height and diameter, a platform projecting outwardly from the apertures to receive thereon the caps discharged through the apertures, two series of posts arranged in staggered relation and extending from each side of an aperture to form a cap path offset from the p-lane of rotation of the drum to receive and cause the rotation of round caps from the aperture and so discharge them from the drum, said posts being arranged to prevent the rotation of and thereby hold an elongated cap, and means for freeing a cap held by the posts.

6. In an apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like, a rotating drum having a plurality of flat sides with apertures at the joints between the sides to permit the passage therethrough of caps of the proper height and diameter, a platform extending outwardly from the apertures and means on the platform to cause perfect caps to rotate as they travel on the platform and be thrown oir therefrom by the rotation of the drum, said means preventing the rotation of `elongated caps which have passed through the apertures, and means for displacing elongated caps from the platform and for pushing back into the drum caps held in the apertures.

7. In an apparatus for sorting caps for cans and the like, a drum having a plurality of flat sides mounted to rotate on a slight angle to the horizontal, said sides being provided with apertures at the joints between them to permit the passage therethrough'of caps of the proper height and diameter and to prevent the passage therethrough of caps of more than the proper height and diameter, the caps being adapted to slide down the inner surfaces of the flat sides of the drum toward the apertures as the drum rotates, and yieldingly mounted blades positioned above and to one side of the drum, the inner ends of said blades being spaced apart slightly from the path of rotation of the outer corners of the joints of the sides of the drum in alinement with the apertures so as to push back into the drum the caps which have failed to pass therethrough.

GEORGE A. BRESE'I'I. 

